Billboard frame



Dec 15, 1964 F. A. RUPPELT ETAL 3,160,973

BILLBOARD FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 27, 196] INVENTORS FRANC/S A. RUPPELT BYfREDER/CK E HADDD w .MMMWDP F. A. RUPPELT ETAL 3,160,973

BILLBOARD FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2'?, 1961 INVENTORS` FRANC/S A. RUPPELT FREDERICK F HADDAD 3,153@ Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,160,973 BILLBUARD FRAME Francis A. Ruppelt, 483 Dover Center Road, Bay Viliage, hio, and Frederick F. Haddad, 5790 Edgehiil Road, Parma, hio l Filed `Ian. Z7, 19161, Ser. No. 85,351 3 Ciaims. (1140-125) The invention relates in general to frames for billboards and more particularly to frames which' can be quickly and economically attached to both new andA existing billboard structures.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket which can be quickly and easily attached to a billboard construction. n

Another object of the invention is to provide a. trim member which can be quickly and easily attached or snapped on to the mounting bracket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket which can `be attached to a wooden framework of a billboard by nail or screw means or similar attachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket which can be attached to the interlocking means between panels which make up the assembly upon which advertising media is to be placed, by placing a support member within an enclosure formed by the interlocking means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket which can be attached to two parallel walls of i the interlocking means between panels which make up the assembly upon which advertising media is to be placed, by placing spaced wall means over either side of the two parallel walls. Y Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting bracket for easy attachment toV a billboard construction which includes spaced securing portions about which can be snapped or resiliently secured spaced attaching portions of a trim member.V p

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this inventiorrmay be had byreferring to the following description i United States Patent Otiiice and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a billboard which incorporates the teachings ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken generally along the line 2--2 of FIGURE l; however, being an isometric view rather than an elevational'view and showing-portions of the billboard broken away for a better understanding of the teachings of the present invention:

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view taken generally along the line 3 3 ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a modified form of amounting bracket to which 4the trim member of the present invention may be attached;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of the bracket shown in FIGURE 4 but showing it as it would appear in position along the lower 'edge ofthe periphery of the` billboard rather than theV upper edge as the bracket Vin FIGURE 4 is shown.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7. `is an isometric view of a modified form of amounting bracket tor which the trim member of the present invention' may Ibe attached; .y

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the bracket in FIGURE 7 b ut showing it as it would appear in position along the lower edge ofthe periphery of the billboardv rather than the upper edge as the bracket in FIGURE 7 is shown;

FIGURE 9 is a viewtaken generally along the line 9-.-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE lO is a view taken generally along the line 10--10 of FIGURE 8; and

. FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view showing how the abutting ends of the several sections of the trim member are secured together.

`233 which are intcrlocked together along their sides as will be described hereinafter. FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a conventional type of construction which also includes a wood frame indicated by the reference numeral 25. A number of conventional means may be utilized to support the panels 23 in their vertical position and in FIGURE 2 one of the means has been indicated as an angle iron 27 held by a bracket 28.

The present invention relates to a trim member and the convenient and economical means of attaching the same to the billboard construction. As seen in FIGURE i l, a plurality of mounting brackets 30, namely 16 in number, have been shown and these brackets serve to hold six sections of the trim member in place. These sections as seen in FIGURE 1 extend respectively from 32-33, 33-34, 34-35, 35e-36, 36-37, and 37 to 32.

In conventional construction wherein prior art devices have been utilized, it has been necessary to secure some sort of bracket to the framework by a suitable means and then attach the trim member such as 'it might be to the bracket by some suitable Ameans such as metal screws. It will be noted that in FIGURE 1, the interlocking of the panels 23 forms as assembly which is adapted toV receive advertising media thereon. This advertising media is generally held upon the face of the assembly by means of an adhesive substance such as paste. It will also be noted that the plurality of mounting brackets 30 extend generally around the outer periphery of the assembly.

As seen in FIGURES 2 and. 3, each of the mounting brackets 30 includes a flat mounting portion 40 and nails 4I extend through this dat mountingy portion into the wooden framework-25 to secure the mounting bracket in place relative thereto. First and second outwardly'exltending walls 43 and 44 are integrally secured to respective ends of the at mounting portion and terminate at iirst and second support sections 47 and 48, respectively. Looking at FIGURE 3, it will be noted that a line drawn throughsupport portions 47 and 43 `would extend at an acute angle with respect to the flat mounting portion 4i) and also at an acute angle with respect to the v front face of the assembly formed by the panels 23; A

first securing wall 50 is integrally secured to the iirst support portion 47 at one end thereof and terminates atthe other end portion in what may be referred to as a V-shaped securing portion 51. A second securing wall is integrally secured to the second support portion 48 at one end thereof and terminates at the other end thereof in an L-shaped securing portion 56. It will be noted that each of the iirst and second securing walls 50 and 55, respectively, are located onthe same side of the line which passes through the support portions 47 and 48, as the flat mounting portion 40. y

Each of the sections of trim member, for example the section from 34-35, comprises a flat body portion 60 67 is integrally secured to the flat bodyportion at one end thereof and terminates at the other end portion in an L-shaped attaching portion 68 which is snapped over and secured to the L-shaped securing portion S6. It will be noted that the straight line distance between the V-shaped attaching portion 64 and the L-shaped attaching portion 68 is less than the distance between the V-shaped securing portion 51 and the L-shaped securing portion 56. The result of this is that since the trim member is constructed of a metal which has a natural or inherent resiliency tending to maintain it in the shape shown in FIGURE 3, that the trim member may be distorted slightly from its shape shown in FIGURE 3 to get it on to the bracket as shown and thereafter, the inherent resiliency of the trim member holds it in place. The abutting ends of the various sections of the trim members are secured together as shown in FIGURE 11. As noted in FIGURE l1, it will be seen that the one section of trim carries a member 71 which slides under a spring like member 72 carried by the other end of the next adjacent section of trim member. This serves to substantially align the trim members and then metal screws 73 extend through the abutting ends of the trim member sections into a securing plate 74.

In order to install the frame for the billboard shown and described, it is only necessary for a Workman to attach the mounting bracket 30 to the wooden framework 25 by means of the nails 41. It will be appreciated that this can be quickly and conveniently done with a minimum of elort in keeping the mounting brackets positioned relative to each other. The sections of the trim members shown are preferably prefabricated to include the corners such as shown in the sections 32-33 and in the section 35-36. The other sections are comprised of a straight run of the trim member. After the brackets have been mounted, all there is to do is to snap the trim member into position on the bracket as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. After this, the abutting ends of the trim member sections are secured together as shown in FIGURE l1.

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the mounting bracket which may be utilized in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention. This mounting bracket facilitates ease of installation on billboard constructions which are not provided with the wooden framework such as that shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 25. In billboard constructions which do not utiltize the wooden framework, the construction of the billboard is essentially the same as that shown in FIGURE 2; however, at the lower portion of the panels where the wooden framework 25 is shown, there may be provided another angle iron 27 along with mounting brackets 28 to aid in maintaining the panel members in an upright position. As mentioned hereinabove, the panel members 23 are interlocked along their connecting edge portions by what may be referred to as first and second generally parallel walls 77 and 78, each of which includes first and second perpendicular portions 80 and 81, respectively, in the sense that these portions are perpendicular to the face of the panel members and also a parallel portion 82. These parallel walls 77 and 78 when connected together as shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 may be said to form an inter-v locked enclosure. The mounting bracket which is utilized in this type of construction has been indicated generally by the reference numeral S4 and comprises a channel shaped support member 85 with one end thereof residing in the interlocked enclosure with the three walls thereof 1 engaging respectively the back of a panel member, a first perpendicular portion, and a parallel portion of one of the first and second parallel walls 77 and 78. A bracket 89 is spot Welded as at 90 to the channel shaped support member and one` end portion thereof extends outwardly therefrom at another portion. A securing wall member 92 is secured to the other portion of the bracket 89 and has a facing surface 93 which extends at an acute angle with respect to the assembly or the front face of the panel members. The first end portion of the securing wall 92 terminates in a V-shaped securing portion 95 and a second end portion of the vsecuring wall 92 terminates in an L-shaped securing portion 96. The trim member which is secured thereto is identical with the trim member which has been described in the discussion of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and like reference numerals have been utilized in identifying the trim member. In other words, the V- shaped attaching portion 64 is connected to the V-shaped connecting portion 9S and the L-shaped attaching portion 68 is attached to the L-shaped securing portion 96. The method of installation is substantially the same as that describedk in conjunction with the discussion of FIGURES 1, 2 and'3. Y

FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a still further moditied form of the mounting bracket of the present invention. This mounting bracket has been indicated generally by the reference numeral 100 and includes a support member 101 which in cross section is generally box shaped or in other words, a continuous annular Wall. A securing Wall member 102 which has a facing surface 103 is secured to one end of the support member by suitable means, such as welding as at 104. The securing wall 102 may also be said to have a V-shaped securing portion 105 and an L-shaped securing portion 106. This is particularly true when considering the cross section of the securing wall member 102. The mounting bracket 100 differs from the mounting bracket 84 in that the method of securing one end of the support member 101 to the interlocked structure differs.

It will be noted that one end portion of the support member 101 is split, or in other words, is provided with a wedge or V-shaped wall means 108 and this wall means 108 is driven over the first perpendicular portion of the first and second parallel walls 77 and 78 so that opposed sides of the V-shape Wedge are secured on to these parallel walls. This serves to maintain the mounting bracket in position. The trim member which is associated with this mounting bracket is the same as described in conjunction with FIGURES 3, and 4 and as a result, the V- shaped attaching portion 64 is secured to the V-shaped securing portion 105 and the L-shaped attaching portion 68 is secured to the L-shaped securing portion 106.

It will thus be seen ahat in all embodiments of the present invention which have been shown and illustrated, a convenient and economical means has been provided for supplying a billboard with a frame structure. This is particularly truev in utilizing the mounting bracket of FIGURES 2 and 3 which can be conventiently nailed or screwed to the Wooden framework and the trim member then snapped into position as described, as Well as utilizing the mounting brackets of FIGURES 5 and 7 which may be merely driven into the interlocked structure of the panel members when there is no wooden framework provided. The channel shaped support member of FIGURE 5 may be said to be driven into the enclosure formed by the interlocking means, whereas the device of FIGURE 7 utilizes spaced wall means to straddle or in other words be driven on either side of two parallel walls. With the use of the trim member herein disclosed in conjunction withthe mounting bracket, the trim member can be quickly and easily positioned and may also be quickly and easily removed when desired t without resorting to any complicated and time-consurning means of attachment.

Although this invention has been described in its prefered form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by Way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

l. A frame for a billboard which is made up of a plurality of interlocked panels to form a fiat assembly on Which advertising media is to be placed, the interlocked panels being interlocked along their connecting edge portions by first and second generally parallel Walls which include rst and second perpendicular portions interconnected by a parallel portion to form an interlocked enclosure; including in combination a plurality of mounting brackets connected at intervals to the periphery of the assembly, a plurality of sections of trim members secured by said mounting brackets and extending generally around the periphery of the assembly to create the frame for the billboard, each said mounting bracket comprising a channel shaped support member residing in the interlocked enclosure With the Walls thereof engaging the back of an interlocked panel, a first perpendicular portion and a parallel portion, a bracket spot Welded to said channel shaped support member at one portion and extending outwardly therefrom at another portion, a securing` Wall member secured to said other portion of said bracket and having a facing surface which extends at an acute angle with respect to the assembly, a rst end portion of said securing Wall member terminating in a V-shaped securing portion a second end portion thereof terminating in an L-shaped securing portion, each said trim member comprising a flat body portion which engages said facing surface of said securing Wall member, a first attaching member integrally secured to said flat body portion at one end and terminating at the other end portion in a V-shaped attaching portion Which is snapped over and secured to said V-shaped securing portion, a second attaching member integrally securedto said flat body portion at one end portion and terminating at the other end portion in an L-shaped attaching portion which is snapped over and secured to said L-shaped securing portion and screw means forl attaching the abutting ends of said trim members together.

2. A frame for a billboard which is made up of a plurality of interlocked panels to form a at assembly on which advertising media is to be placed, the interlocked panels being interlocked along their connecting edge portions by irst and second generally parallel Walls which form an interlocked enclosure; including in combination a plurality of mounting brackets `,connected at intervals to the periphery of the assembly, a plurality of sections ot trim members secured by said mounting brackets and extending generally around the periphery of the assembly to create the frame for the billboard, each said mounting bracket comprising a channel shaped support member residing in the interlocked enclosure with the walls thereof engaging a Wall of said interlocked enclosure, a bracket connected to said channel shaped support member at one portion and extending outwardly therefrom at another portion, a securing Wall member secured to said other portion of said bracket and having a facing surface which extends at an acute angle with respect to the assembly, a first end portion of said securingwall member terminating in a V-shaped securing portion a second end portion thereof terminating in an L-shaped securing portion, leach said trim member comprising a iiat body portion which engages said facing surface of said securing Wall member, a rst attaching member secured to said ilat body portion at one end and terminating at the other end portion in a V-shaped attaching portion which is snapped over and secured to said J-shaped securing portion, a second attaching member secured to said flat body portion at one end portion and 'terminating at the other end portion in an I -shaped attaching portion which is snapped over and secured to said l..shaped securing portion.

3.'A frame for a billboard which is made up of a plurality of interlocked panels to form a flat assembly on which advertising media is to be placed, the interlocked panels being interlocked along theiriconnecting edge portions by iirst and second generally parallel Walls which include a iirst perpendicular portion including in combination a plurality of mounting brackets connected at intervals to the periphery of the assembly, a plurality of sections of trim members secured by said mounting brackets and extending generally around the periphery of the assembly to create the frame for the billboard, each said mounting bracket comprising a box shaped support having wall means longitudinally dividing one end portion of said support member into first and secondportions, said first and second portions of said one end portion of said support member residing on opposed sides of said first'perpendicular portion of said first and second generally parallel Walls with said Wall means thereof engaging said parallel walls to hold said mountingbracket in position, a securing Wall member secured to said support member and having a facing surface which extends at an acute angle With respect to the assembly, a first end portion of said securing wall member terminating in aV V-shaped securing portion a second end portion thereof terminating in an L.shaped securing portion, each said trim member comprising a tlat body portion which engages said facing surface of said securing wall member, a first attaching member integrally secured to said flat body portion at one end and terminating at the other end portion in a t-shaped attaching portion which is snapped over and secured to said V-shaped securing portion, a second attaching member integrally secured to said flat body portion at one end portion and terminating at the other end portion in an L-shaped attaching portion which is snapped over and secured to said L-shaped securing portion and screw means for attaching the abutting ends of said trim members together.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 892,615 Perry July 7, 1908 1,497,945 Sayre Iuly'17, 1924 1,713,903 Hinkson May 21, 1929 1,742,667 Purdy et al. Jan. 7, 1930 1,886,899 Overholtz Nov. 8, 1932 1,886,900 Overholtz Nov. 8, 1932 2,048,359 Snell July 21, 1936 2,078,126 Cusick Apr. 20, 1937 2,306,460 Meyer et al Dec. 29, 1942 2,603,014- Michael July 15, 1952 2,692,414 vPoupitch Oct; 26, 1954 2,789,042 Kinney Apr. 16, 1957 2,908,956 Brazik Oct. 20, 1959 2,961,723 Hammam s l Nov. 29, 1960 

2. A FRAME FOR A BILLBOARD WHICH IS MADE UP OF A PLURALITY OF INTERLOCKED PANELS TO FORM A FLAT ASSEMBLY ON WHICH ADVERTISING MEDIA IS TO BE PLACED, THE INTERLOCKED PANELS BEING INTERLOCKED ALONG THEIR CONNECTING EDGE PORTIONS BY FIRST AND SECOND GENERALLY PARALLEL WALLS WHICH FORM AN INTERLOCKED ENCLOSURE; INCLUDING IN COMBINATION A PLURALITY OF MOUNTING BRACKETS CONNECTED AT INTERVALS TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE ASSEMBLY, A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS OF TRIM MEMBERS SECURED BY SAID MOUNTING BRACKETS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE ASSEMBLY TO CREATE THE FRAME FOR THE BILLBOARD, EACH SAID MOUNTING BRACKET COMPRISING A CHANNEL SHAPED SUPPORT MEMBER RESIDING IN THE INTERLOCKED ENCLOSURE WITH THE WALLS THEREOF ENGAGING A WALL OF SAID INTERLOCKED ENCLOSURE, A BRACKET CONNECTED TO SAID CHANNEL SHAPED SUPPORT MEMBER AT ONE PORTION AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AT ANOTHER PORTION, A SECURING WALL MEMBER SECURED TO SAID OTHER PORTION OF SAID BRACKET AND HAVING A FACING SURFACE WHICH EXTENDS AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSEMBLY, A FIRST END PORTION OF SAID SECURING WALL MEMBER TERMINATING IN A V-SHAPED SECURING PORTION A SECOND END PORTION THEREOF TERMINATING IN AN L-SHAPED SECURING PORTION, EACH SAID TRIM MEMBER COMPRISING A FLAT BODY PORTION WHICH ENGAGES SAID FACING SURFACE OF SAID SECURING WALL MEMBER, A FIRST ATTACHING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID FLAT BODY PORTION AT ONE END AND TERMINATING AT THE OTHER END PORTION IN A V-SHAPED ATTACHING PORTION WHICH IS SNAPPED OVER AND SECURED TO SAID V-SHAPED SECURING PORTION, A SECOND ATTACHING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID FLAT BODY PORTION AT ONE END PORTION AND TERMINATING AT THE OTHER END PORTION IN AN L-SHAPED ATTACHING PORTION WHICH IS SNAPPED OVER AND SECURED TO SAID L-SHAPED SECURING PORTION. 